Punishment Pad/Mat for Toddlers

ABSTRACT

A child&#39;s punishment mat comprising a mat on which a child may sit, said mat having a pre-designated target area for the child; a removable battery powered timer mechanism with a digital readout affixed to the mat by a snap, including a start-stop button for setting and timing a period for the child to be punished; a handle affixed to the mat for carrying the mat; and a tote bag with a closure mechanism and a handle for carrying and storing the mat.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit to provisional application 60/764,596filed on Feb. 2, 2006, entitled Punishment Pad/Mat for Toddlers, whichis incorporated by referenced herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a design for a pad/mat fortoddlers and small children, which is washable, portable and includes aremovable timer. In a most preferred embodiment, the invention may comewith a tote or carrying case.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, there has been a move away from the spanking ofchildren toward non-violent punishment options. There is a belief amongmany child psychiatrists that physical punishment promotes violence andrage.

The most popular of these new punishment options has been to placechildren in “time out”. During “time out”, the child is forced to sit ina designated place to contemplate his or her transgression.

There have been a number of inventions directed to the area of a designfor pads/mats for toddlers; however, there has not been one specificallydirected to a “time out” with a removable timer mechanism. U.S. Pat. No.20040110115 discloses a time-out mat that is used for disciplining asmall child. The mat is a circular or other shaped flat device of about20 inches in diameter that is comfortable for a young child to sit on.The mat can be constructed so that it can be folded or rolled forportability. It is useful to parents, teachers, preschool instructors,or daycare operators. A child associates that mat with discipline and itcan be placed in a location where the child's behavior can be observed.

U.S. Pat. No. 20040048229 discloses a behavior shaping kit includes atleast one time-out defining device, at least one timer, a plurality ofstickers having prohibitory indicia marked thereon, training devices fora caregiver, a plurality of stop signs, and craft tools. The caregiveraffixes stickers having prohibitory indicia marked thereon, to items inthe house with which the child should not come into contact. When achild does come into contact with these items, the child is immediatelyplaced in a time-out area which is defined by a time-out definingdevice. A time-out defining device serves to restrict movement of thechild from place to place.

U.S. Pat. No. 20050204471 discloses a baby mat comprising a top surface,a bottom surface, and an inner layer, one surface having an imprint of aruler for measuring the height of a baby. The mat is usually bordered atits peripheral edges by various known methods to keep the inner layerintact between the top and bottom surfaces and to prevent the fabricfrom frilling. The mat provides a good media for recording vitalinformation about a baby and for advertising, as well. A compartment ora bag for holding baby accessories and personal items may beincorporated into or with the mat. The mat is preferably made ofwashable and reusable materials and is of such thickness to allow themat to be folded or rolled for easy storage.

U.S. Pat. No. 20050115000 discloses a baby mat comprises a main regionhaving a constant width, a head region having a shape of semicircle, anda leg region. A projection part for holding a baby head is provided inthe head region of the baby mat, and side projections are provided onboth sides of the main region. The baby mat is increased in height fromthe leg region toward the head region.

U.S. Pat. No. 20030131901 discloses an invention that relates to both atextile article and a method of making the textile article. The textilearticle is a two-sided Jacquard woven textile with a graphic impressionon at least one side thereof. In one embodiment, the front side of thetextile has a dark color border and a light color area within saidborder. The light color area is the area receiving the graphicimpression. It is sometimes advantageous to reverse the textile.Therefore, in another embodiment the front side has a light color borderwith a dark central area, and the dark central area will receive thegraphic impression. The graphic impression may be applied by screenprinting, image dyeing, digital imaging, or heat transfer (heat appliedgraphics). The method of making the article comprises the steps ofproviding a two-sided Jacquard woven textile and then transferring theimpression onto the textile, preferably in the light color central area,but the reverse side of the textile could be employed and the impressioncould be on the dark central area. The textile may be a golf or sportstowel, hand, bath, or wash towel, beach towel, baby bib, a bath or beachrobe, a bath mat, an apron, hot-plate, mittens, and the like.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,684,758 discloses a child's disciplinary deviceincluding a plush toy and a countdown timer secured to the toy. Thetimer includes indications corresponding to children's ages, and thetimer is set to a proper time-out period by setting the timer to thechild's age. The correspondence between ages and time-out periods isnonlinear.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,560,802 discloses a pillow capable of being highlyuseful and convenient to a user. An alarm is arranged at a predeterminedportion of a stuffed doll which is made in imitation of a real orfanciful animal or the like. The alarm may be actuated through a timer.The timer may be driven through a cell or a spring. The alarm isconstructed so as to generate sound, voice, vibration, light or thelike.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,463 discloses a baby play mat with protectiveenclosure comprising a mat and one or more bumpers circumscribing theperimeter of the mat. The bumpers comprise fastening means on the topand bottom surfaces. The perimeter of the mat also comprises fasteningmeans. The bumpers are securely and removably attached to the perimeterof the play mat to form a protective tier defining an interior cavity.Additional layers of bumpers can be fastened to the top of the firstprotective tier to increase the height of the enclosure. Additional matscan be joined together to increase the width of the play area.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,634 discloses a convertible bag for holding articlestherein is arranged to be opened into a reclining mat to provide asanitary surface for reclining a child thereon. An inner surface of thereclining mat includes a pillow compartment into which a pillow isremovably secured. A pair of zippers is used to removably join the topand bottom panels to form the bag. The bag includes a pair of handlestraps. The handle straps are attached to the bag to form at least oneutility loop useful for attaching baby related paraphernalia such aspacifiers and toys, so they remain within the child's reach and they donot fall onto the floor and get lost. The handle straps preferablyfurther includes a metal snap fasteners for removably attaching thehandle straps to the outer surface of the reclining mat to prevent aninfant from being strangled by a handle strap while lying on thereclining mat. The bag preferably includes a plurality of compartmentsfor storing additional articles; and the bag preferably further includesan identification tag with emergency information regarding the child.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,761 discloses an educational electronic baby mathaving means for auditory and visual responses to user motion orpressure stimuli including a top layer having a plurality of symbolsinscribed on a plurality of light transmitting zones adapted to becompressed by a baby or child thereby impacting middle layer lightdiffusers. The light diffusers impact electrical conducting contactsthat impinge upon contact points located within electrical circuits on aflexible printed circuit board to activate indicator lights and auditoryrecitations associated with each compressed symbol. Alternatively, amotion sensor detects a baby or child's movements and preprogrammedsound and visual responses indicating the identity of top layer symbolsare activated.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,771 discloses electromechanical vibrationtransducers are embedded in a pad, and a mat on which a newborn baby isplaced is stacked on the pad. A graphic equalizer is arranged to correctthe frequency characteristics of a sound signal generated by a soundsignal generator to characteristics close to the original frequencycharacteristics even if sounds are reflected to interfere with eachother in an incubator. Comfortable vibrations can be applied to thenewborn baby. In addition, sounds having frequency characteristics closeto the original frequency characteristics can be played for the newbornbaby. The newborn baby therefore can feel at ease, and at the same timebedsores, night terrors, and the like can be prevented. Maintenance costis also low.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,620 discloses a multifunctional baby deviceincluding a substantially toroidal shaped cushion having at least onestrap for preferably removably securing a play toy to the device. Thedevice may also include a mat integrally interconnected with the cushionfor providing a clean, soft surface. This mat may define an interiorportion of the cushion and may also extend beyond to cushion to providea suitable surface for diaper changing. A baby may be placed in thecushion in a supine position whereupon the cushion provides support tothe baby's head or in a prone position whereupon the cushion providessupport to the baby's chest. Preferably, the toys are interconnectedwith the support such that they are accessible only when the baby is inthe noted prone position.

U.S. Pat. 4,712,258 discloses a baby changing mat comprising a centralpadded body with a raised sill extending about a majority of the edge ofthe body and a pair of straps for holding a baby to the mat. The mat isformed from a flexible material and has at least one centrally locatedtransverse stabilizing member to which the straps may be anchored. Extrapadding may be provided for the baby's head.

While there have been a number of child and toddler mats, there has notbeen a dedicated time out pad with a removable time. None of the priorinventions discloses a device in which a toddler can be seated on adesignated area that includes a timer.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a child a time outmat with a removable timer.

It is a further object to the invention to provide a time out mat whichincludes a timer.

It is a yet a further object of the present invention to provide a childmat with a removable timepiece and which further includes a carryingcase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, the child's punishment matcomprises a mat on which a child may sit and a removable timer mechanismaffixed to the mat for timing a period for the child is to be punished.

In a further embodiment, the invention is a child's punishment mat thatcomprises a mat on which a child may sit and have a pre-designatedtarget area; a removable timer mechanism affixed to the mat by a snapfor timing a period for the child to be punished and a handle affixed tothe mat for carrying the mat.

In still a further embodiment, the invention is a child's punishment matcomprising a washable cloth mat on which a child may sit, said mathaving a pre-designated target area for the child; a removable batterypowered timer mechanism with a digital readout affixed to the mat by asnap that including a start-stop button for setting and timing a periodfor the child to be punished; a handle affixed to the mat for carryingthe mat; and a tote bag with closure mechanism and handle for carryingand storing the mat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overhead view of the present invention with a child seatedthereon.

FIG. 2 is an isolated view of the removable timepiece of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is an overhead view of the novel timeout mat without child.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a tote bag carrying system for use with thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is disclosed with reference to the enclosedFigures. The preferred embodiment is directed toward a design for apad/mat 10 for toddlers with a handle 12, which is washable, portable,includes a removable timer 14. The timer 14 is electronic and may beselectively removed. The pad/mat materials are made out of machinewashable fabrics and the product is designed to fold/zip into a smalltote bag.

Referring to FIG. 1, the invention comprises a mat 10. The mat may beconstructed from a wide variety of materials and fabrics such as cottonand synthetics. Preferably, the mat should be constructed from awashable material and may include a liquid impenetrable layer. The matmay have a handle 12 and will include a timer 14. In one embodiment,this top layer has a target 26, 24 for the child to sit in as shown inFIG. 3. The mat includes a handle 12.

Referring to FIG. 2, the invention includes a pre-settable timermechanism 14 which can be set in minutes 32 and seconds 34 and includesa start-stop button 22. The timer, which is preferably battery powered,includes a digital readout 16 for minutes 32 and seconds 34. The timerincludes reset buttons 18, 20 to reset minutes and seconds and astart-stop button 22. The timer will have an audible buzzer or soundmechanism, which will activate when the pre-set time for punishment isover. The timer mechanism 14 can be attached by a snap or lock and willbe removed for washing.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an embodiment in which the mat 10 folds tobecome a carrying case or a tote 28. The mat folds and is held connectedby a zipper 29, snaps or buttons. The folded and connected mat can thenbe carried by the handle 12.

When it is necessary to punish the child, the mat is removed from thetote 28. A period of punishment is set using the minute 32 seconds 34buttons on the timer 14 and the child is directed to sit on the target26, 24 on the mat 10. When the pre-designated period ends, a buzzer orother sound device associated with the timer 14 can sound.

The present invention has been described with reference to the abovediscussed preferred embodiments. It is to be appreciated that the truenature and scope of the present invention is determined with referenceto the claims appendix hereto.

1. A child's punishment mat comprising: a mat on which a child may sit;and a removable timer mechanism affixed to the mat for timing a periodfor the child to be punished.
 2. The child's punishment mat of claim 1,further comprising a tote bag for holding and transporting thepunishment mat.
 3. The child's punishment mat of claim 1, in which atimer can be set for a pre-selected period of minutes and seconds.
 4. Achild's punishment mat comprising: a mat on which a child may sit havinga pre-designated target area; a removable timer mechanism affixed to themat by a snap for timing a period for the child to be punished; and ahandle affixed to the mat for carrying the mat, said mat being foldableto become a carrying case.
 5. A child's punishment mat comprising: awashable cloth mat on which a child may sit, said mat having apre-designated target area for the child; a removable battery poweredtimer mechanism with a digital readout affixed to the mat by a snap andincluding a start-stop button for setting and timing a period for thechild to be punished; and a handle affixed to the mat for carrying themat; said mat being foldable to become a carrying case to be carried bysaid handle.